New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-08
DICKINSON AND LAMAR.
OPPOSITION TO THEM IN THE SENATE.
THE UNFIT SECRETARY WILL BE CONFERENCE.-The
INTERFERENCE WITH THE MAILS RECALLED.
lBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRTBU Ne.

THE UNFIT SECRETARY WILL BE CONFERENCE.-The
INTERFEnE>CE WITH THE MAILS RECALLED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.l
WAsniNGToS, Dec. 1T reported to-day that
there VIII be stout opposition the part of some of
the Western Republican Senators to the confirmation
OF Don VI. Dickinson as POstmastcr-Gcneral II was
asserted that the Michigan and Illinois Senators are
especially hostile to the appointment but they were
rciiccnt and EoncOmmltal when approached on tho
subject.
The opponent of Mr.. Lamar's confirmation arc
outSpocn and they give good for their 0ppO
ston which appears TO bc based such grounds as his
advanced age, the fact that he never attained any
cmIncnce I'm his Professionalism indeed. he appears
not to have practsed at all since 1854, period OF
thirty three ycars-and his lack of the judicial
temperament. II Is said, however that number Of
Republican senators have mado up their minds 10
vote for him despite all hs lmperfccons, disabilities
and nhrmltlcs. 4 friend OF Mr. Lamar today said
that Of nine Republican senators with whom he hal
converScd the subject all except one had indicated
an intention 10 vote for confirmation. Among the
Republican Scnatrs who counted In Iamar's favor
arc sawyer and Spooncr. of Wisconsin; sabln and
avis, of Minnesota and Cameron, of Pennsylvania.
How Republican votes might be affected by an ad-
verse report from the Judiciary Committee It IS I'M
possible to orcic II IS understood that Mr.. Lamar
friends viii prevent reference Of his case to tho
committee If they find 1t practicable to do so.
Twenty-clght years ago the Virginia statute which
required pOstmastcrs. officers OF the United states, 10
purl0n from the mail and destroy copies OF I'LL.
TEiEr> ~ and ether publications opposed to the ex-
tension of slavery declared constitutional by At
to rncy General j. Randolph Tuchclof that state.
Thai opinion approved 10y an Attorney General OF the
United states, governed the action Of President ~
chansn's Postmaster General secretary Lamar thily
sympathh ed with the extreme and unlaw ful Efforts "a
curta the liberty Of the press. In the nlst nish oi
his pride, upon finding himself qualified with thc
authority Of a high executive office, he forgot that
since the cpublcanS came into power Ia 1901, lnlcr-
ference with the lawful contents Of the mail bags even
bv the head Of a great Executive Department had not
been tolerated several days before the close Oi
Pre-, dcn Arthur's term ~ Office. the comm-,lons oi
two officers II tho public land service VINO had
qualified fled m" necessary bonds, aud entered upon
the discharge of their duties some month, previously,
were sent to them by mall. When Mr. Lamar cane
into Office. hc once gave an order 10 have th'
commls-io recalled. 1clcgram- were f"ni 10 INC
post master. of the offices AZ which the coinWunca
Ner, delivered with Instructions not 10 h'llvrr
them to the officers 10 whom they Wcrc alllrSNrd'
but return them 10 the Department OF n' Interior.
\ man who thus openly attempts 10 d'ty thN laN
while AZ the head of great department J.. hardy
NJ 10 sf on the bench of the supreme court ot the
United states.